Gabriel Frey
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TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy
MEDIUM: Basketry - Ash
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a Passamaquoddy brown ash basketmaker, specializing in utility baskets such as pack basket, market baskets, and purses. I weave each basket solely with brown ash and handcraft leather straps for each. My artistic process includes locating and harvesting basket quality brown ash trees from the woods, processing brown ash logs, and weaving brown ash materials into basket forms. The majority of my tools such as basket molds, gauges, and my shave horse are adaptations of traditional designs. Maintaining the traditional knowledge of Wabanaki basketmakers is an important aspect of my artistic process.
My art is an expression of my worldview. I am inspired by the natural world and the transformation of a living tree into a functional basket. My baskets are a connection to my past, present, and future, interwoven to create functional pieces of art. When I examine a basket, the basketmaker’s choices in weave and design become evident. Seeing these choices is like holding a conversation with that basketmaker through time. As I carve my own creative path in the basketmaking community, I work towards perfecting the function and form of the traditional baskets while evolving each basket to reflect my personal style. My goal in basketmaking is to produce useable, functional baskets for daily use. I want a person who buys my basket to use, feel, and experience Wabanaki culture every day.
